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YVCOG updates BPAC: commute‑trip, regional safety action plan and transit feasibility work underway
Summary
Alan Adolf of the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments briefed the committee on regional planning: updated commute trip reduction plans, a regional safety action plan intended to unlock federal Safe Streets & Roads for All funds, and an ongoing multi‑phase transit feasibility effort.
Alan Adolf, regional transportation manager for the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG), gave a multipart briefing on Feb. 12 about regional planning and funding efforts that intersect the city’s bike‑ped work.
Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) plans: Alan said jurisdictions that meet state CTR thresholds are updating plans that were last revised in 2015; COVID delayed the usual four‑year update cycle. He said a final draft regional CTR plan and jurisdictional plans have been reviewed by the Washington State Department of Transportation CTR office and the statewide CTR technical committee. Jurisdictions will now proceed with SEPA (environmental review) and public comment; the deadline to complete jurisdictional submissions is June 30, 2025.
Regional Safety Action Plan: Alan described a new, federally eligible Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) funding program and said YVCOG has started an 18‑month Yakima Valley Regional Safety Action Plan. That plan will inventory safety deficiencies across jurisdictions, engage stakeholders (school districts, emergency responders, freight, transit providers) and produce a document that can be used to apply for multi‑jurisdictional safety funding. Alan said the regional approach allows combined applications that could fund corridor‑scale or programmatic work (from pavement markings to larger intersection or corridor projects).
Transit feasibility and phase planning: YVCOG is completing consultant selection for the second phase of a region‑wide transit feasibility study. Phase 1 inventoried assets across providers; phase 2 will examine service frequency, coverage and operational efficiencies without increasing the local tax base. Alan said the organization is seeking state funding this spring to support a third phase to explore funding alternatives (districts or other revenue tools). Public engagement for the next phases is anticipated in late spring.
Funding note: Alan said transportation alternatives funds awarded last year for green paint and trolley work are available and that the regional office can help jurisdictions access those dollars as manpower and project timing allow.
Why it matters: The YVCOG efforts identify programmatic funding and planning mechanisms (CTR compliance, SS4A eligibility and regional transit strategies) that the city and BPAC can use to leverage multi‑jurisdictional grants and align local projects with regional priorities.
